Deliveroo staff all get shares... except couriers

DELIVEROO is to give its permanent employees shares worth £10million, but its army of couriers will be excluded from the handout.

The move will see a majority of the takeaway delivery company’s 2,000 office staff receive an average of £5,000 worth of stock options.

But because Deliveroo delivery riders are classed as self-employed contractors and not permanent employees, they will be shut out of the award.

Customers place orders through Deliveroo’s app or website and then couriers – many of whom use mopeds or bicycles – transport orders from restaurants to customers.

Founder and chief executive Will Shu said the share award was his ‘way of thanking staff at the company’.

Deliveroo, which has its global headquarters in London, has recently given 35,000 couriers free accident insurance, but it stopped short of handing them further benefits.